informations pdf - Revue Technique Luxembourgeoise

Press release
June 2011
Airtech Europe celebrates its milestone moment: 20 years of successful story in Luxembourg
Airtech Europe – A success story in Luxembourg
Situated in Differdange, in the South of the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg, Airtech Europe is a manufacturer and supplier of
vacuum bagging and composite tooling materials serving
the composite, bonding and tooling industry.
Airtech Europe was founded in 1991 and is a division of
"Airtech Advanced Materials Group", whose headquarter is
located in Huntington Beach, California. Founded by William
Dahlgren in 1973, Airtech is a family owned company.
To better answer to the increasing demand of the industry of composite materials in the 90s, the
headquarter decided to establish a division in Europe. The site of Differdange was chosen further to
the proposal on behalf of the Luxemburg Ministry of Economics.
Airtech Europe had initially begun its activity with 6 employees and a building of 3 300 m ² surface.
Growing fast, the double of this initial surface was needed. In 2001, the company enlarged the zone
of storage and production to reach a total surface of 6 300 m². Rapidly expanding during the last
years, the offices became too small. The company added an office building of 1 000 m² to the
complex, reaching a total surface of 7 300 m². On July 6th, Airtech Europe inaugurates the new
administration building and celebrates its 15th anniversary. Mr. Jeannot Krécké, Luxembourg
Minister of Economy, cuts the ribbon in front of about 80 distributors, managers and regional
politicians. Nowadays Airtech Europe occupies a surface of 15 100 m ² and does not stop
developing.
"We are very proud of such a growth in our domain. When I began to work in the aeronautics 30
years ago, we did not speak about composite materials yet and we were far from imagining itself "
declares Mr Stratmann, General manager of Airtech Europe.
With a current strength of more than 450 employees in the group, 112 working in Luxemburg,
Airtech is the leading manufacturer and supplier of auxiliary materials for the composite, bonding
and tooling industry. Always listening to the needs of customers, the technical and commercial
teams travel worldwide to answer the increasing requirements.
"The enquiries presented from our customers show that the composites materials are on its way to
be established in almost all industrial areas. It further shows that Airtech could reinforce its position
as a leader in vacuum bagging and composite tooling technology by investing in the right material
developments and production methods.”, confirms Wolfgang Stratmann.

To propose competitive products, the company invests
regularly in modern production equipment and high
technologies. Last year Airtech Europe has invested in
a new, huge ply cutter machine that is 6m wide x 36m
long, which allows to produce all requested shapes on
almost all vacuum bagging materials. This machine is
an important element to meet the permanently growing
demands for kitted products.
“Reaching this milestone, 20 Years of Excellence and
Innovation in the composite market, can be credited to
our loyal distributors, costumers and suppliers and to
our employees, who are the cornerstone of our
company. “ Mr. Stratmann concludes.
The whole team of Airtech Europe wants to express its gratitude to all valuable customers,
partners and suppliers for their support and their confidence during the past 20 years and is
looking forward for the next 20 years!
« We honour the past but we always launch the future »
About composite materials
Due to their good mechanical behavior and their very low weight, the use of composite materials
is increasing more and more. The composite material is an assembly of at least two materials
which do not mix together but which have nevertheless a strong capacity of adhesion. The new
material so formed has properties not existing for the single elements.
It is constituted by a structure called reinforcement (eg fiberglass or carbon fiber) which assures
the mechanical holding and of a protection called matrix (eg resins polyester, vinylester or
epoxy) which assures the cohesion of the structure.
This phenomenon, which allows low weight and rigidity, explains the increasing use of composite
materials, in various branches of industry. They are primarily used in the air transport (civil and
military), aerospace, maritime and railroad, building industry, as well as the sports and the
leisure activities. Other domains, as for example medicine or electronic sector, have also begin
to use composite materials.
Press Contact: Silvia Radu s.radu@airtech.lu
Tel : 00352 58 22 82 279 / Fax : 00352 58 49 35
www.airtech.lu
Airtech is the world leading manufacturer and supplier of vacuum bagging and composite tooling materials serving the composite, bonding and tooling industry.
Airtech offers the auxiliary materials for the vacuum bagging, wet lay-up, resin infusion processes. The product range consists of: vacuum bagging films up to ultra
high temperature and very large width, release films and release liquids, pressure sensitive tapes, peel plies, breathers and bleeders, vacuum bag sealant tapes,
vacuum bag connectors and hoses, rubber, custom products and kitting, tooling materials, carbon and glass reinforcements.
Airtech is an ISO 9001:2008 and EN/ AS 9100 registered company.